Murray Wins 12th Straight, Will Take On Isner Friday In Vienna QFs

Andy Murray kept rolling Thursday in Vienna beating Gilles Simon in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. It was Murray’s 12th straight win as the Scot tries to keep the pressure on Novak Djokovic in the race for No. 1.

“It was a very long match, but I expected it to be very hard because it’s just that way against Gilles. You play a lot of long points. You feel like the harder you hit the ball, the harder it comes back,” said Murray. “You just have to try to use some variety, some slice and drop shots, and find that balance to get him out of his rhythm.”

Murray has won all six meetings against his next foe, American John Isner.

David Ferrer advanced past Joao Sousa 6-2, 7-6 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was a 7-6(6), 6-2 victor over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Both Austrians lost, though, with Dominic Thiem going down to Viktor Troicki and Jurgen Melzer fell to Albert Ramos Vinolas.

On Friday, Troicki takes on Ferrer, Tsonga meets Ramos Vinolas and 20-year-old Karen Khachanov clashes with Ivo Karlovic.

FRIDAY VIENNA SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 1:00 pm
[8] I. Karlovic (CRO) vs [WC] K. Khachanov (RUS)
[6] J. Tsonga (FRA) vs A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP)

Not Before 4:30 pm
V. Troicki (SRB) vs [5] D. Ferrer (ESP)

Not Before 7:00 pm
[1] A. Murray (GBR) vs J. Isner (USA)
P. Cuevas (URU) / V. Troicki (SRB) vs [2] B. Bryan (USA) / M. Bryan (USA)

COURT B start 6:00 pm
[1] J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA) vs O. Marach (AUT) / F. Martin (FRA)